DIVINATION
PRACTICE
WITHOUT BORDERS
|
Divination
Practice Without Borders Examining the
Issue of Tarot Certification An Opinion by
Thalassa and the Editorial Staff of The Belfry Since
the issue of certification in Tarot has gained momentum in the last decade,
one must consider whether sufficient parallels between disciplines such as
business, medicine and law can be drawn to divinatory practice, and if so,
whether it is worthwhile to pursue this model. The suspicion with which the
unseen, the sacred and the uncanny are viewed in the modern world often
causes practitioners of divination to operate in a sort of shadow realm which
can make it difficult to achieve mainstream credibility. It is assumed that
the proponents of Tarot certification are attempting to address this issue. All
human endeavors, be they art or religion, science or government, have
produced charlatans and mediocrities as well as brilliant stars and careful,
steady practitioners. However much we would like to protect ourselves against
the former and avail ourselves of the latter, it is not always possible to
ascertain which is which. The desire to guarantee consistent quality of
practice has driven many professions and industries to establish
accreditation boards and certification programs to augment and enhance their
training. Whether they have succeeded is highly debatable. In the light of
almost continuous scandals great and small, one cannot avoid questioning
whether the certification offered in business and professional disciplines
actually enhances the quality of services provided. One of the most crucial
questions to be asked is: realistically, what can certification can
accomplish? In
undertaking the establishment of Tarot certification, many questions need to
be addressed, not the least of which is how much power does a certifying
agency have? How can a subject as broad in its interpretations and
associations as Tarot be constrained by the necessarily restrictive conventions
of academic study and the certification model? Does a certifying agency or
accreditation board have the right of censure? Of endorsement? We must also
ask why and to whom are those seeking certification giving their time, money
and power. From whence does this power derive? Where does the money go? If
the goal is to render divinatory services more acceptable and accessible to
the mainstream and to ensure quality of service, are there other ways that
this might be accomplished? Groups
such as the Brotherhood of Light and Builders of the Adytum have long offered
a form of certification in their training systems. James Wanless offers
certification in his Voyager system. These are specific systems certifying
only within the parameters of their own structures. If someone has completed
one of these systems of training and offers a reading, the querent may have
an idea of the kind of reading they will receive, but not necessarily of the
quality. However, there is no one-holy-catholic-&-apostolic body of Tarot
thought, no standard curricula or canon. The number of different schools,
interpretations, and systems is already enormous with no sign of diminishing
proliferation. How can any one agency presume that its coursework and
certification can cover more than a fraction of so broad a spectrum?
Realistically, how can any such body cover all aspects of practice, quantify
such essential card reading skills as intuition, compassion and commitment to
truth? Tarot is not a one-size-fits all pursuit, and standardization is not
desirable. Tarot shares a crucial aspect with medicine in that good practice
comes down to the quality of care, not the prestige of the school from which
the practitioner graduated; different – even maverick – methodologies should
be respected as long as they yield good results, and, in the words of
Hippocrates, "harm none." With
the rise of certification structures within the Tarot world there also seems
to be an increase in the prejudice - so prevalent in the day-to-to-day world
- of those with certification or degrees towards those who do not. Let us be
reminded that a degree verifies primarily that one has completed a course of
study, and a certification acknowledges that one has passed an examination.
Although this may indicate a certain knowledge level or skill set, it is no
guarantee of quality practice that is beneficial to clients and colleagues.
One is reminded of how a freshly minted MBA may falter when plunged into the
maelstrom of modern business, whereas someone with a few decades of solid
life experience and an up-to-date skill set can carry the day. We must not
let the visible sign of course completion supersede actual life experience
and extensive Tarot practice. Our
society’s willingness to trust experts and designations over common sense,
careful evaluation and educated assessment seems to have increased
proportionate to the proliferation of certified experts and accrediting
bodies. In our everyday lives we must make decisions regarding selection of
health care providers, legal advisers, financial planners, hairdressers,
&c., awash in an excess of stimulation and a surfeit of information. Our
reliance on certification alone cannot guarantee quality or satisfaction, be
it a social worker or a yoga instructor. In these decisions we must be as
"street smart" as "book smart," informed by knowledge as
well as heeding our inner voice. We cannot allow ourselves to be impressed
merely by letters after a name, or the name of the issuing institution on a
certificate. It takes an enormous amount of knowledge to get through an
average day, more now than at any point in human history; yet many of us make
the same credulous mistakes that humans have made since recorded history. In
the realms of divination practice and provision of service these concerns
become especially important. We must be judged in the realm of the real
rather than that of the academic. Looking
at the size of the worms in this can is potentially daunting. However, it is
an issue that must be addressed. It may be wiser to form into fraternal
organizations, professional societies, and institutes of study than to
continue with formal certification models. Less hierarchical structure can
actually encourage support and accountability among the community. Certifying
agencies and academic bodies are often notoriously resistant to change, and
the vibrantly growing Tarot community to needs to be as fluid and as
accommodating to change as possible. We should resist forming monolithic
bodies, and look to models of small, adaptable organizations that can offer
instruction and support within specific disciplines and interact across a
broad spectrum. No single entity should have more right than another to speak
for the vast and diverse Tarot community. We have reached the point where we must take a long hard look at how we face ourselves, our clients and the mainstream. Our strengths include our commitment to truth and healing, our unconstrained support for one another, and the gift that is Tarot. We must consider carefully what other cards we add to our deck. Questions? Comments?
Suggestions? Answers happily provided! Email
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